‘My heart is broken': Mother, wife killed at Lapu Lapu festival tragedy in Vancouver
A man who lost his wife in the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy spoke about her love and legacy at a vigil for the victims on Monday night.
Jen Darbellay was struck and killed by an SUV at the Filipino festival on Saturday night.
Noel Johansen was also injured in the incident but that was secondary to him when he spoke in front of a crowd gathered near the site of the deadly incident at East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street.
1:13
'She was larger than life': Husband of Vancouver Lapu Lapu festival victim pays moving tribute to wife
'What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what's inside my heart is broken,' Johansen said, holding back tears.
Story continues below advertisement
'Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident.'
Get breaking National news
For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
He said he felt his wife in every hug he received from those at the vigil.
'She never celebrated herself in her life,' Johansen said of his wife. 'She never thought of herself, she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach.
'And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her. So don't be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have and please remember us who went through this.'
A GoFundMe has now been set up for Darbellay's family. She leaves behind two children, ages 15 and seven.
4:58
Grief and healing following the Lapu Lapu Day attack in Vancouver
Eleven people were killed when an SUV drove into a crowd of people at the festival, which was being held on the grounds of a school. The festival was being held to celebrate Filipino heritage and culture.
Story continues below advertisement
The victims of the tragedy range in age from five to 65 years old. Here is what we know so far.
On Tuesday afternoon, Vancouver police Sgt. Steve Addison said the number of people recovering in hospital remains the same. He said seven people remain in critical condition, ranging in age from 29 to 66. Five of them are men and two are women.
In addition, three people remain in serious condition, all men, ranging from 22 months to 60 years old.
'We are working to confirm the nationalities of all victims,' Addison said.
He added that investigators have identified more than 200 witnesses. He said they have received 43 tips and there have been 51 uploads to the evidence portal on the Vancouver police website.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
14 hours ago
- Global News
After deadly speedboat crash, Tsleil-Waututh Nation calls for stiffer enforcement
The Tsleil-Waututh First Nation says it wants to be part of increased enforcement on the water in the wake of a speedboat collision on Saturday that killed a 10-year-old boy and left a second child with critical injuries. The tragedy happened in the waters of Burrard Inlet, just off North Vancouver's Cates Park and in Tsleil-Waututh territory. 'Speed is definitely an issue. The number of boats are an issue,' elected Chief Jen Thomas said of the boating activity near the park. 'Enforcement is key. Tsleil-Waututh Nation uses these waters every single day. We have our boats that go up ndian Arm, … our members out in the canoes training every single day.' 2:19 Suspect in Cates Park boat incident released from custody Thomas said the area is often crowded with vulnerable water users, including kayakers and paddleboarders, but that boaters in the area are frequently reckless. Story continues below advertisement 'The boats just go whipping on by. We see it all the time. They don't adhere to the five knot speed limit,' she said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The deadly collision happened around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday as the children were being towed in the water on an inner tube. The victim has been identified as Lionel Klassen-Hall, who would have turned 11 next month. The speedboat operator was arrested at the scene and has since been released on conditions. North Vancouver RCMP says it is investigating speed and alcohol as possible factors in the collision. 1:58 Child killed in Cates Park boat incident Thomas said she fears a similar tragedy could happen again in the future, and that she wants to see officials at the Cates Park launch checking to ensure people have proper boat licences. Story continues below advertisement She also believes there should be a place for the nation in keeping the water safe. 'This is something our nation is going to talk to the government about,' she said. 'Let us have a little bit of jurisdiction in our territory and do some enforcement ourselves, especially if our members are on the water every single day.' Bruce Heyne, executive director of Boating B.C., said the number of accidents on the water remains statistically small, but that tragedies do happen and that education and enforcement remain critical. 'We encourage municipalities and local police forces to do as much as they can with marine safety,' he said. He added that recent federal changes have made it easier for municipalities to approach Transport Canada to ask for speed limits or other vessel restrictions in specific areas. 'But really, what it comes down to is people operating pleasure craft need to be responsible and need to be respectful of the people around them,' he said. Thomas, meanwhile, wants to see a visible enforcement presence on the water. 'There should be somebody down here every single day watching these boaters, especially this time of year,' she said.
Global News
16 hours ago
- Global News
1-year-old U.S. child dies after being left in hot car overnight
A Louisiana father has been charged with second-degree murder after his 1-year-old daughter died when she was left in a hot car overnight. Joseph Boatman of Hammond, La., was arrested and charged on Sunday, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed. Police allege that Boatman picked up his 21-month-old daughter from a family member around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. Prior to his arrival he had consumed 'multiple' alcoholic beverages, police said. Boatman, 32, allegedly strapped his daughter into her car seat, went inside the Madisonville home and didn't return to the car, the sheriff's office said. The reason for this action was not given. Story continues below advertisement More than nine hours later, around noon, officers were sent to the house after the toddler was found unresponsive in the vehicle. According to police, the temperature in the area had climbed to approximately 35C on Sunday, but the heat index registered closer to 40C. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'This is a devastating loss that no family ever wants to face,' Sheriff Randy Smith said in a statement. 'When a child is left in a vehicle, especially on a day when the heat index climbs over 100 degrees (Fahrenheit), the outcome can turn deadly in a matter of minutes. This case involved compromised judgment, and the result was heartbreaking.' According to nonprofit her death marks the fifth child to die in a hot car in the U.S. this year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 1,000 children in the U.S. have died in hot cars since 1998. 'About 40 children a year die from heatstroke, either because they were left or became trapped in a car,' officials said. 'That's about one child every 10 days killed in a hot car.' Boatman remains in custody, and his bail has been set at US$750,000.
Global News
17 hours ago
- Global News
Father, teenage son charged in hate-motivated incidents east of Toronto: police
Police say a father and his 14-year-old son have been arrested and charged after an investigation into hate-motivated incidents east of Toronto. Durham Regional Police say a male entered a Canadian Tire store in Bowmanville, Ont., on Jan. 30, and placed antisemitic pamphlets in various places. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Officers were also called on May 24 to a mosque in Orono, Ont., where several vehicles and the front door were vandalized. Police say they executed two search warrants on Monday at a residence in Orono where two males were arrested and several items were seized. A 34-year-old man from Clarington has been charged with mischief to property and a 14-year-old boy from Clarington has been charged with mischief relating to religious property. Police say the incidents have had a significant impact, particularly on members of the Jewish and Muslim communities, and they are committed to ensuring everyone's safety, dignity and well-being.
